Genesis 25-27, Psalm 9, Matthew 9
You can hear a great rendition of the story of Jacob and Esau from Jonathan Goldstein's book "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible" here: http://tunein.com/radio/WireTap-p116877/
Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." A great call for us to enter into the Lord's work. There's lots out there to gain, but we must work for it. Powerful words.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 9
Genesis 22-24, Psalm 8, Matthew 8
In today's Gospel reading Jesus just keeps getting busier and busier. It's astounding, really, to think of all he's accomplished by just the 8th chapter of the book! He's been baptized, chosen disciples, given a huge sermon on a mountain, and now he's healing people left and right. No wonder he's telling people not to talk about his healings. If this gets out the poor man will never get a moment's rest.
I find the idea of community very interesting in these healings. We see three different examples of people joining or working within community. First of all, the leper asks for healing so he can "be clean". He's speaking of the Jewish idea of "clean" here. In ancient Jewish law, leprosy was considered "unclean", so the lepers were ostracized from the community. He was physically unclean from the rotting flesh and spiritual unclean as he wouldn't be allowed to participate in the community of faith. After Jesus heals the man, he orders him to go into the temple and "offer the gift that Moses commanded". In other words, his first act as a clean member of the faith community is to participate in worship.
Next, Jesus meets a centurion. This man does not belong to the Jewish community. Even though he doesn't participate in the same worship that Jesus and his followers do, he recognizes Jesus' great power and humbles himself before him. I can only imagine the embarrassment that would bring on a Roman soldier to humble himself before a lowly Jew. He actually says, "I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed." This phrase, sometimes said during Holy Communion, shows great faith on the part of the centurion and creates a great precedent for Jesus' place among the Gentiles.
Finally, and conversely, we have the story of the demon-possessed people. This one bothers me. Here Jesus drives the demons out of the men and into swine who hurl themselves off a cliff. I've seen enough monster movies to know that when someone rids a village of an evil monster, the villagers should cheer and revere their hero. Not in this story. Here "the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood." Rather than embrace the miracle of Jesus, these people fear him. Perhaps that happens every day. Rather than embrace the gift of God's love we fear the unknown and cast it out.
In today's Gospel reading Jesus just keeps getting busier and busier. It's astounding, really, to think of all he's accomplished by just the 8th chapter of the book! He's been baptized, chosen disciples, given a huge sermon on a mountain, and now he's healing people left and right. No wonder he's telling people not to talk about his healings. If this gets out the poor man will never get a moment's rest.
I find the idea of community very interesting in these healings. We see three different examples of people joining or working within community. First of all, the leper asks for healing so he can "be clean". He's speaking of the Jewish idea of "clean" here. In ancient Jewish law, leprosy was considered "unclean", so the lepers were ostracized from the community. He was physically unclean from the rotting flesh and spiritual unclean as he wouldn't be allowed to participate in the community of faith. After Jesus heals the man, he orders him to go into the temple and "offer the gift that Moses commanded". In other words, his first act as a clean member of the faith community is to participate in worship.
Next, Jesus meets a centurion. This man does not belong to the Jewish community. Even though he doesn't participate in the same worship that Jesus and his followers do, he recognizes Jesus' great power and humbles himself before him. I can only imagine the embarrassment that would bring on a Roman soldier to humble himself before a lowly Jew. He actually says, "I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed." This phrase, sometimes said during Holy Communion, shows great faith on the part of the centurion and creates a great precedent for Jesus' place among the Gentiles.
Finally, and conversely, we have the story of the demon-possessed people. This one bothers me. Here Jesus drives the demons out of the men and into swine who hurl themselves off a cliff. I've seen enough monster movies to know that when someone rids a village of an evil monster, the villagers should cheer and revere their hero. Not in this story. Here "the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood." Rather than embrace the miracle of Jesus, these people fear him. Perhaps that happens every day. Rather than embrace the gift of God's love we fear the unknown and cast it out.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 8
Genesis 19-21, Psalm 7, Matthew 7
The reading from Genesis today is filled with crazy stuff. Old ladies having sons, cities destroyed by fire and sulfur, men trying to have sex with angels, daughters getting their father drunk and having sex with him...Crazy stuff. I honestly don't know what it all means. Especially the story of Lot's daughters. So I choose to focus on the rest of Jesus' sermon on the mount. If anyone else wants to comment on the story of Lot's daughters, feel free.
Jesus says we will know false prophets "by their fruits". It was a few days ago that I was asking how we are to know what's real and what's not. I mentioned then the idea of hearing God's call in community, but here Jesus gives us another way of knowing which prophets are real. Look at what they're doing. This comes in the same sermon where we learn the Golden Rule ("In everything do to others as you would have them do to you") and are told "not [to] judge, so that you may not be judged." I suppose, then, that the fruits of a true prophet would be in sync with these rules.
I was talking the other day with my friend Patrick about people and their habits or dispositions. I noted that I used to believe that people could change, but I am finding that at their core level people are one way. People don't really change. You can change small things like your eating habits, or your sleep patterns, or you can stop biting your nails, but at your core, you don't change. I think that's what Jesus is saying when he says "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." Perhaps that's rather Calvinistic of me, but we're all good trees or bad trees. We have to look for the thorns. Using Jesus' metaphor or the house built on the rock, we need to look toward the good trees with a firm root system embedded in the rock, or holding fast to God.
The reading from Genesis today is filled with crazy stuff. Old ladies having sons, cities destroyed by fire and sulfur, men trying to have sex with angels, daughters getting their father drunk and having sex with him...Crazy stuff. I honestly don't know what it all means. Especially the story of Lot's daughters. So I choose to focus on the rest of Jesus' sermon on the mount. If anyone else wants to comment on the story of Lot's daughters, feel free.
Jesus says we will know false prophets "by their fruits". It was a few days ago that I was asking how we are to know what's real and what's not. I mentioned then the idea of hearing God's call in community, but here Jesus gives us another way of knowing which prophets are real. Look at what they're doing. This comes in the same sermon where we learn the Golden Rule ("In everything do to others as you would have them do to you") and are told "not [to] judge, so that you may not be judged." I suppose, then, that the fruits of a true prophet would be in sync with these rules.
I was talking the other day with my friend Patrick about people and their habits or dispositions. I noted that I used to believe that people could change, but I am finding that at their core level people are one way. People don't really change. You can change small things like your eating habits, or your sleep patterns, or you can stop biting your nails, but at your core, you don't change. I think that's what Jesus is saying when he says "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." Perhaps that's rather Calvinistic of me, but we're all good trees or bad trees. We have to look for the thorns. Using Jesus' metaphor or the house built on the rock, we need to look toward the good trees with a firm root system embedded in the rock, or holding fast to God.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 7...uh...6
Genesis 16-18, Psalm 6, Matthew 6
So here I am after a crazy busy weekend and a long shift at work. A shift, I might add, that ended at 10:45pm when I have to be back at the same job at 5:30am tomorrow. Ick. This weekend was filled with two performances, several rehearsals, piano practicing, line memorizing, laundry washing...the list goes on and on. I actually had the shakes on Friday I was so tired and so stressed that I wouldn't get everything done. Then I come home, grab a beer, read my Bible, and there's Jesus saying, "...can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?" My initial reaction is that Jesus doesn't get my problem.
Here he is telling me to consider the lilies of the field. They don't toil, but they're beautiful. Well that's all fine and dandy if you're a lily, but I'm not. I'm a human being with rent to pay, gas to buy, taxes to file, student loans weighing me down. I think I'd be much happier being a lily.
This passage in Matthew has always both confused me and given me hope. I do like the simplicity of just relying on God, but as the wise saw goes, God helps those who help themselves. I think what Jesus must be talking about here is not the daily grind, but all the little things that weigh us down. Things that don't matter. I'm using lots of cliches here, but my grandmother's favorite thing to tell me is to "not sweat the small stuff." Of course, she's one to talk. She used to have this sign on her refrigerator that said, "Hello. This is God. I'll be taking care of all your problems today." Her friend Pat, who's a little bit crazy, crossed out the word God and wrote in "Pat". I sometimes feel like Pat. But Jesus tells us that we don't have to worry about all of that.
For me the key verse in this passage is verse 33. "[S]trive first for the kindgomd of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Jesus is telling us that the things that really matter are serving God. Yes, we still have to go through the daily grind. Yes, I still have to go to work and work diligently so I have money to pay my bills, but that is a means to an end. And that end is God.
"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
NEXT WEEK:
Day 8 - Genesis 19-21; Psalm 7; Matthew 7
Day 9 - Genesis 22-24; Psalm 8; Matthew 8
Day 10 - Genesis 25-27; Psalm 9; Matthew 9
Day 11 - Genesis 28-30; Psalm 10; Matthew 10
Day 12 - Genesis 31-33; Psalm 11; Matthew 11
Day 13 - Genesis 34-36; Psalm 12; Matthew 12
Day 14 - Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in church
So here I am after a crazy busy weekend and a long shift at work. A shift, I might add, that ended at 10:45pm when I have to be back at the same job at 5:30am tomorrow. Ick. This weekend was filled with two performances, several rehearsals, piano practicing, line memorizing, laundry washing...the list goes on and on. I actually had the shakes on Friday I was so tired and so stressed that I wouldn't get everything done. Then I come home, grab a beer, read my Bible, and there's Jesus saying, "...can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?" My initial reaction is that Jesus doesn't get my problem.Here he is telling me to consider the lilies of the field. They don't toil, but they're beautiful. Well that's all fine and dandy if you're a lily, but I'm not. I'm a human being with rent to pay, gas to buy, taxes to file, student loans weighing me down. I think I'd be much happier being a lily.
This passage in Matthew has always both confused me and given me hope. I do like the simplicity of just relying on God, but as the wise saw goes, God helps those who help themselves. I think what Jesus must be talking about here is not the daily grind, but all the little things that weigh us down. Things that don't matter. I'm using lots of cliches here, but my grandmother's favorite thing to tell me is to "not sweat the small stuff." Of course, she's one to talk. She used to have this sign on her refrigerator that said, "Hello. This is God. I'll be taking care of all your problems today." Her friend Pat, who's a little bit crazy, crossed out the word God and wrote in "Pat". I sometimes feel like Pat. But Jesus tells us that we don't have to worry about all of that.
For me the key verse in this passage is verse 33. "[S]trive first for the kindgomd of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Jesus is telling us that the things that really matter are serving God. Yes, we still have to go through the daily grind. Yes, I still have to go to work and work diligently so I have money to pay my bills, but that is a means to an end. And that end is God.
"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
NEXT WEEK:
Day 8 - Genesis 19-21; Psalm 7; Matthew 7
Day 9 - Genesis 22-24; Psalm 8; Matthew 8
Day 10 - Genesis 25-27; Psalm 9; Matthew 9
Day 11 - Genesis 28-30; Psalm 10; Matthew 10
Day 12 - Genesis 31-33; Psalm 11; Matthew 11
Day 13 - Genesis 34-36; Psalm 12; Matthew 12
Day 14 - Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in church
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 6
Friday, February 24, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 5
Genesis 13-15, Psalm 5, Matthew 5
This little light of mine.
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine.
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, shine, shine. Let it shine.
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. no one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5 14-15)
What a terrifying verse! We're supposed to live in way that 1.) Pleases God, 2.) Is visible to everyone, and 3.) "gives light" to the whole world. That's a lot of pressure. I was talking about church at work today, and one of my co-workers said she was stunned to hear I was religious. I was stunned to hear that she was stunned. Am I living in such a way as to make others think I'm not a Christian? I suppose she meant it as a compliment (what does that say for public opinion of the church?), but it actually frightened me. Here in his "Sermon on the Mount" Jesus tells us we are to be an example to the world. Further, our example should fill the world with light. Light can mean so much in Biblical terms. Jesus is called the light of the world. We know the first thing God created was light. Light can mean knowledge or enlightenment... I read this as our lives should show forth the example of the Christian light and further give comfort and hope to the world. People shouldn't look at us and say, "oooh, scary Christian!", but should look at us and say, "Praise God that there are people following Him and making this world a better place."
Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine!
This little light of mine.
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine.
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, shine, shine. Let it shine.
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. no one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5 14-15)
What a terrifying verse! We're supposed to live in way that 1.) Pleases God, 2.) Is visible to everyone, and 3.) "gives light" to the whole world. That's a lot of pressure. I was talking about church at work today, and one of my co-workers said she was stunned to hear I was religious. I was stunned to hear that she was stunned. Am I living in such a way as to make others think I'm not a Christian? I suppose she meant it as a compliment (what does that say for public opinion of the church?), but it actually frightened me. Here in his "Sermon on the Mount" Jesus tells us we are to be an example to the world. Further, our example should fill the world with light. Light can mean so much in Biblical terms. Jesus is called the light of the world. We know the first thing God created was light. Light can mean knowledge or enlightenment... I read this as our lives should show forth the example of the Christian light and further give comfort and hope to the world. People shouldn't look at us and say, "oooh, scary Christian!", but should look at us and say, "Praise God that there are people following Him and making this world a better place."
Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 4
Genesis 10-12, Psalm 4, Matthew 4
I can remember distinctly our bible study at church and the sermon surrounding the story of Jesus calling the first disciples. Simon Peter and Andrew are fishing. Jesus says "Follow me", and "immediately they left their nets and followed him." That's a pretty striking image. My dad used to fish a lot. I can't imagine him just leaving his fishing trip because some guy said, "follow me." Think about your own job. I work in a coffee shop. I know that's not the most life-changing job a person can have, but I take my work very seriously. If someone came to me and said, "follow me", I'd probably say, "Can I finish this latte first?" That's an incredible act of faith. What's even crazier is that the exact same thing happens with James and John. They even leave their own father behind to follow Jesus.
Of course, Jesus gives Simon Peter and Andrew a pretty good deal. He says if they leave their nets he will make them "fish for people". Other translations say, "I will make you fishers of men." That's a pretty amazing thing. Like I said, when I make a latte at the coffee shop, and I do make a mean latte, by the way, I'm not really doing much to change the world. Sure I make that person's day a little better for a little while, but I'm not doing anything half as incredible as "fishing for men." I believe that Jesus still calls us to follow him. I'm not leaving my job at the coffee shop any time soon, but I can still follow Jesus. Perhaps writing on this humble little blog every day is a way I can make that happen. Mother Anita, the rector at my church in Newport, gave a rather compelling sermon a while back on listening for God's call. I'm inclined to believe her when she says God calls all of us, and calls all of us to a specific task and purpose. I don't always hear God's call clearly, but I believe that with prayer and studying the Bible and staying in a community of Christians I can learn to hear God better. One thing Mother Anita said that stuck with me was that she believes God speaks to us in community. That's certainly true in this gospel story of two sets of brothers. When we hear God's call in community we can better know what he's saying. It's just staying open to that call. Being willing to leave our nets behind and follow Jesus.
Of course, Jesus gives Simon Peter and Andrew a pretty good deal. He says if they leave their nets he will make them "fish for people". Other translations say, "I will make you fishers of men." That's a pretty amazing thing. Like I said, when I make a latte at the coffee shop, and I do make a mean latte, by the way, I'm not really doing much to change the world. Sure I make that person's day a little better for a little while, but I'm not doing anything half as incredible as "fishing for men." I believe that Jesus still calls us to follow him. I'm not leaving my job at the coffee shop any time soon, but I can still follow Jesus. Perhaps writing on this humble little blog every day is a way I can make that happen. Mother Anita, the rector at my church in Newport, gave a rather compelling sermon a while back on listening for God's call. I'm inclined to believe her when she says God calls all of us, and calls all of us to a specific task and purpose. I don't always hear God's call clearly, but I believe that with prayer and studying the Bible and staying in a community of Christians I can learn to hear God better. One thing Mother Anita said that stuck with me was that she believes God speaks to us in community. That's certainly true in this gospel story of two sets of brothers. When we hear God's call in community we can better know what he's saying. It's just staying open to that call. Being willing to leave our nets behind and follow Jesus.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 3
Genesis 7-9, Psalm 3, Matthew 3
I'm writing this blog from hand-written notes I took during a rehearsal tonight, so bear with me if they make no sense. It's too late and I'm too tired to edit anything, so what I type is what you get. Talk about trusting in the Holy Spirit to not let me say anything too heretical!
Concerning Noah and the Flood:
I was quite stricken by the idea of uncreation. Whereas Genesis 1 focuses on God creating order, here he undoes it. As the firmament opens and the primeval waters flood the earth (remember the ancients believed that there was water both below and above the earth) we are "returning to pre-creation chaos" as the footnote in my Oxford Annotated Bible says. We further get a parallel as Noah curses his son much as God curses Adam and Eve for their transgressions. I have no idea what that means, but there it is. Perhaps we're seeing man take on his role of having dominion over the earth. God gives man that power earlier in the text, and here we see Noah literally saving every life form on earth while also giving out curses that last generations.
Concerning Matthew 3:
I love the image of John the Baptist as a wild man in fur eating locusts and wild honey. Deacon Ann Pelletier once told me she liked to think about John eating locusts. What a weird thing to do. It reminds me of the crazies on the El in Chicago or in Central Park in New York who have that wild look in their eyes and scream nonsense. Actually, if I heard someone calling, "repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" I would walk the other way. So how do we distinguish the false prophets from the real? In this case Jesus comes to John, and John even refuses to baptize him at first. This humility seems a safe sign. I don't trust anyone who claims to be a prophet and boasts about it. It seems that most of the prophets have a strong sense of humility. Of course, having Jesus himself identify someone as important and then God sending the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove helps determine that John is the real deal.
I'm writing this blog from hand-written notes I took during a rehearsal tonight, so bear with me if they make no sense. It's too late and I'm too tired to edit anything, so what I type is what you get. Talk about trusting in the Holy Spirit to not let me say anything too heretical!
Concerning Noah and the Flood:
I was quite stricken by the idea of uncreation. Whereas Genesis 1 focuses on God creating order, here he undoes it. As the firmament opens and the primeval waters flood the earth (remember the ancients believed that there was water both below and above the earth) we are "returning to pre-creation chaos" as the footnote in my Oxford Annotated Bible says. We further get a parallel as Noah curses his son much as God curses Adam and Eve for their transgressions. I have no idea what that means, but there it is. Perhaps we're seeing man take on his role of having dominion over the earth. God gives man that power earlier in the text, and here we see Noah literally saving every life form on earth while also giving out curses that last generations.
Concerning Matthew 3:
I love the image of John the Baptist as a wild man in fur eating locusts and wild honey. Deacon Ann Pelletier once told me she liked to think about John eating locusts. What a weird thing to do. It reminds me of the crazies on the El in Chicago or in Central Park in New York who have that wild look in their eyes and scream nonsense. Actually, if I heard someone calling, "repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" I would walk the other way. So how do we distinguish the false prophets from the real? In this case Jesus comes to John, and John even refuses to baptize him at first. This humility seems a safe sign. I don't trust anyone who claims to be a prophet and boasts about it. It seems that most of the prophets have a strong sense of humility. Of course, having Jesus himself identify someone as important and then God sending the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove helps determine that John is the real deal.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 2
Genesis 4-6, Psalm 2, Matthew 2
Dreams and their effects really jumped out at me from today's readings. In Matthew we're told that Joseph stays with Mary even though she is pregnant before they are married and have had sex because of a dream. The magi find the baby Jesus because of a dream. Joseph has a dream that causes him to flee to Egypt, and is warned of Herod's successor in a dream. Much like the Joseph of the Old Testament, Joseph of the New Testament finds God most clearly in his dreams. I find this odd because I rarely remember my dreams. I've been told that you remember dreams best if you write them down as soon as you wake up. I've tried this, but even then I only remember images. I think part of my problem comes from the fact that I wake up abruptly at 4:45 most mornings to the obnoxious sound of my alarm clock. I've also heard that if you wake up naturally you remember more. Not really an option for someone who has to get up so early. My internal clock DEFINITELY wouldn't wake me up at that hour.
So why dreams? Why doesn't God just come right out and talk to us. Tell us what to do. That would make more sense to me. I think part of it must be that we wouldn't believe it was real. I can honestly say I've never audibly heard the voice of God. I've felt things. I've been given signs. I've been inspired. I have never had a conversation with God as I do with other human beings. I won't deny the possibility of that happening, but I'm skeptical of anyone who says they've heard the voice of God. Dreams, however, always seem otherworldly. Anything can happen. Perhaps it's a way for God to speak with us without scaring the be-jeezes out of us. I'm not as faithful as Moses. If a burning bush started talking to me, I think I'd run away screaming. Reflecting on a dream, however, seems more reasonable.
Anyone else out there talk to God? Do you get messages in dreams? I've certainly had warnings and hope come to me in the form of dreams. We talked in our Bible Study class at church several weeks ago about listening to God's call. Knowing when God is calling you to do something. I think the hardest thing is just being open to the call. We have to actively listen. Joseph had the great fortune of being a dad when he was NOT expecting it. Perhaps that opened his heart to listen to God. We should do the same.
Dreams and their effects really jumped out at me from today's readings. In Matthew we're told that Joseph stays with Mary even though she is pregnant before they are married and have had sex because of a dream. The magi find the baby Jesus because of a dream. Joseph has a dream that causes him to flee to Egypt, and is warned of Herod's successor in a dream. Much like the Joseph of the Old Testament, Joseph of the New Testament finds God most clearly in his dreams. I find this odd because I rarely remember my dreams. I've been told that you remember dreams best if you write them down as soon as you wake up. I've tried this, but even then I only remember images. I think part of my problem comes from the fact that I wake up abruptly at 4:45 most mornings to the obnoxious sound of my alarm clock. I've also heard that if you wake up naturally you remember more. Not really an option for someone who has to get up so early. My internal clock DEFINITELY wouldn't wake me up at that hour.
So why dreams? Why doesn't God just come right out and talk to us. Tell us what to do. That would make more sense to me. I think part of it must be that we wouldn't believe it was real. I can honestly say I've never audibly heard the voice of God. I've felt things. I've been given signs. I've been inspired. I have never had a conversation with God as I do with other human beings. I won't deny the possibility of that happening, but I'm skeptical of anyone who says they've heard the voice of God. Dreams, however, always seem otherworldly. Anything can happen. Perhaps it's a way for God to speak with us without scaring the be-jeezes out of us. I'm not as faithful as Moses. If a burning bush started talking to me, I think I'd run away screaming. Reflecting on a dream, however, seems more reasonable.
Anyone else out there talk to God? Do you get messages in dreams? I've certainly had warnings and hope come to me in the form of dreams. We talked in our Bible Study class at church several weeks ago about listening to God's call. Knowing when God is calling you to do something. I think the hardest thing is just being open to the call. We have to actively listen. Joseph had the great fortune of being a dad when he was NOT expecting it. Perhaps that opened his heart to listen to God. We should do the same.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 1
Genesis 1-3, Psalm 1, Matthew 1
Alright, folks, here we go.
The first thing I learned today is that my annotated Bible is VERY annotated. I'm not complaining, mind you. I'm a big old nerd, and I find it amazing that there's cross-references and alternate translations and historical backgrounds and even notes that basically say, "huh?". It's fascinating and time consuming! I started by reading the introduction to the Old Testament, then dutifully read the introduction to the Pentateuch, and, of course the introduction to Genesis. Then I had to read the introduction to the Psalms, and was far too tired to read the lengthy introduction to the New Testament, but when the introduction to Matthew referenced the section on Genre in the introduction to the Gospels, I had to backtrack. Whew! This is intense. Good news: I only have to read the introductions when I get to a new book.
Enough complaining. (Aw, who am I kidding? I loved the scholarly stuff.) Into the meat of the text:
I have to admit that I really love the first account of creation beginning in Genesis 1. I say first because the story of creation with the adam or man is clearly a different story altogether. If we read the book straight through, God creates everything, rests, then there's no vegetation. Hmmm. Must be two stories mushed together. Lesson one of the Bible challenge: the Bible isn't a literal history. Good. Got that out of the way.
I really love that the first creation story, besides conveying some beautiful poetic images, places everything in its right place. Order out of chaos. As someone who's working the equivalent of three jobs plus some extra activities, my life often sits in a state of chaos. How comforting to know that God has a place and plan for everything. The darkness fills with light, the seas are separated (again, we can't be literal. I know that the blue sky isn't water above a firmament), animals are placed in the waters, skies, and land. Everything in its place. The great news, though, comes from the gift God gives us of being autonomous. There's much debate and talk in religious classes about this pesky free will, but it's what makes life exciting. We aren't puppets of God. We can choose to stray and listen to the serpent and eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Even the animals and the earth have some life of their own outside of God. I had never noticed before the exact wording when God says, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind." (Gen. 1.24) As the footnote in my Oxford Annotated NRSV points out, "God's command for the earth to bring forth (a maternal verb...) suggests that the animals are immediately bound to the ground and only indirectly related to God, in contrast to human beings." This has two implications. One, God has created a special and intimate relationship between himself and man. Two, God allows creation to move and grow on its own accord. In other words, God has set things in motion. To go back to my Greek educational roots, God is the unmoved mover. The first mover. I'm not a deist, though. I see God continually acting in creation. There are consequences to our actions.
The adam and his wife learn this the hard way. Even though God punishes them rather severely for disobeying, God still shows them great love. Again, something I had never noticed before was God creating new clothes for Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3. 14-19 notice the text changes from prose to verse. I can't help but smile when I think that God doles out punishment in the form of poetry. Here we get all that awful stuff about snakes crawling, child-bearing hurting, and, in anticipation of this coming Wednesday, returning to dust. But immediately after God presents the awful news, he approaches the two sad, naked humans, "and the LORD God made garments of skins for the man and for his wife." That's an incredibly kind thing to do! Makes me think of my mother. She would give me a spanking, tell me I couldn't watch TV for a week, and then give me a big hug and tell me she loves me. Tough love. That's God's style.
So, there are my thoughts on part of the readings from today. What do you think? Did you see anything I didn't? Anyone want to comment on the Psalm or the genealogy of Jesus or on how Joseph is pretty amazing to agree to dismiss Mary privately only to change his mind because of a trippy dream? Go for it!
Alright, folks, here we go.
The first thing I learned today is that my annotated Bible is VERY annotated. I'm not complaining, mind you. I'm a big old nerd, and I find it amazing that there's cross-references and alternate translations and historical backgrounds and even notes that basically say, "huh?". It's fascinating and time consuming! I started by reading the introduction to the Old Testament, then dutifully read the introduction to the Pentateuch, and, of course the introduction to Genesis. Then I had to read the introduction to the Psalms, and was far too tired to read the lengthy introduction to the New Testament, but when the introduction to Matthew referenced the section on Genre in the introduction to the Gospels, I had to backtrack. Whew! This is intense. Good news: I only have to read the introductions when I get to a new book.
Enough complaining. (Aw, who am I kidding? I loved the scholarly stuff.) Into the meat of the text:
I have to admit that I really love the first account of creation beginning in Genesis 1. I say first because the story of creation with the adam or man is clearly a different story altogether. If we read the book straight through, God creates everything, rests, then there's no vegetation. Hmmm. Must be two stories mushed together. Lesson one of the Bible challenge: the Bible isn't a literal history. Good. Got that out of the way.
I really love that the first creation story, besides conveying some beautiful poetic images, places everything in its right place. Order out of chaos. As someone who's working the equivalent of three jobs plus some extra activities, my life often sits in a state of chaos. How comforting to know that God has a place and plan for everything. The darkness fills with light, the seas are separated (again, we can't be literal. I know that the blue sky isn't water above a firmament), animals are placed in the waters, skies, and land. Everything in its place. The great news, though, comes from the gift God gives us of being autonomous. There's much debate and talk in religious classes about this pesky free will, but it's what makes life exciting. We aren't puppets of God. We can choose to stray and listen to the serpent and eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Even the animals and the earth have some life of their own outside of God. I had never noticed before the exact wording when God says, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind." (Gen. 1.24) As the footnote in my Oxford Annotated NRSV points out, "God's command for the earth to bring forth (a maternal verb...) suggests that the animals are immediately bound to the ground and only indirectly related to God, in contrast to human beings." This has two implications. One, God has created a special and intimate relationship between himself and man. Two, God allows creation to move and grow on its own accord. In other words, God has set things in motion. To go back to my Greek educational roots, God is the unmoved mover. The first mover. I'm not a deist, though. I see God continually acting in creation. There are consequences to our actions.
The adam and his wife learn this the hard way. Even though God punishes them rather severely for disobeying, God still shows them great love. Again, something I had never noticed before was God creating new clothes for Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3. 14-19 notice the text changes from prose to verse. I can't help but smile when I think that God doles out punishment in the form of poetry. Here we get all that awful stuff about snakes crawling, child-bearing hurting, and, in anticipation of this coming Wednesday, returning to dust. But immediately after God presents the awful news, he approaches the two sad, naked humans, "and the LORD God made garments of skins for the man and for his wife." That's an incredibly kind thing to do! Makes me think of my mother. She would give me a spanking, tell me I couldn't watch TV for a week, and then give me a big hug and tell me she loves me. Tough love. That's God's style.
So, there are my thoughts on part of the readings from today. What do you think? Did you see anything I didn't? Anyone want to comment on the Psalm or the genealogy of Jesus or on how Joseph is pretty amazing to agree to dismiss Mary privately only to change his mind because of a trippy dream? Go for it!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
The Bible Challenge
This year I'm really excited to join others in my church (Emmanuel Church, Newport) in what we're calling The Bible Challenge. We're giving ourselves one year to read the entire Bible from cover to cover. Ok, that means my Lenten devotion will go much longer than 40 days and 40 nights, but I think the point of Lent is to refocus yourself for the year. This will definitely do that! Every week I get an email from the church with the readings for Monday through Saturday. On Sunday we listen to the readings at church from the Revised Common Lectionary. I've been attending Bible Study every Sunday since I moved back to Newport in August, and I've found that there's an embarrassingly large amount of the Bible I don't know. Since I was raised in a Southern Baptist Church (no I don't hate gays, dancing, or drinking...I'm an Episcopalian now), I grew up quoting the Bible. Those quotes, however, are worthless if you have no idea of the context. Call me a nerd, but I'm ecstatic that I found and Oxford Annotated New Revised Standard Bible at the library book sale for $5. It has tons of footnotes that help me with the historical context and some scholarship.
So why am I sharing all of this with anyone foolish enough to read my blog? Because I need help. I find that I don't retain anything I read unless I discuss it with other people. I'm pledging to post something here every day for the next year about what I've read, and my hope is that you will join me in this journey. I make no claims of being a preacher or a Bible scholar, but I feel that the Bible is a book for everyone. We can all pull lessons from it that relate to our own lives. The idea of the blog is not for me to preach to anyone, but for as many of us as are interested to engage in conversation. Ask questions. Be wrong. Let's figure it out together!
If you're interested in joining me all you have to do is check the blog. I'll post the assigned readings here and anyone can comment. Easy. What's stopping you? Go dust off your Bible, download a copy to your kindle or iphone, read online, or go buy one (you can get a KJV at the Dollar Tree for a dollar).
Excited? I am!
This week's readings:
Day 1 - Genesis 1-3; Psalm 1; Matthew 1
Day 2 - Genesis 4-6; Psalm 2; Matthew 2
Day 3 - Genesis 7-9; Psalm 3; Matthew 3
Day 4 - Genesis 10-12; Psalm 4; Matthew 4
Day 5 - Genesis 13-15; Psalm 5; Matthew 5
Day 6 - Genesis 16-18; Psalm 6; Matthew 6
Day 7 - Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in church
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)